The nine-day-long Chaitra Navratra festival starts from Wednesday. Mansa Devi temple’s doors will be opened at 4 am from March 22 to March 25. Further, the doors will open at 3 am from March 26 to March 30. The doors will close at 12 midnight.
The temple has been decorated with different flowers and lightings. Lakhs of devotees visit the shrine from various parts of the country. During the Navratra mela, this number rises to lakhs every day. At least 700 police personnel have been deputed for maintaining law and order in and around the Mansa Devi shrine. The police personnel will be deployed there till March 30. Many VVIP personalities, including politicians, are expected to pay obeisance at the shrine in the next nine days. Adequate parking slots have been earmarked for the parking of vehicles. Special corners have been made to make announcements about the missing people and objects found abandoned on the shrine premises. Officials have urged locals to maintain peace while coming to the shrine.
Additional local buses will be run between Mansa Devi bus stand and other parts in Panchkula and Chandigarh during the next nine days.The ancient Mansa Devi Shrine was established in 1815 AD by Maharaja Gopal Singh of Manimajra. At a distance of 200 m from the main temple is the Patiala temple which was got constructed by Karam Singh, the then Maharaja of Patiala, in 1840. This temple had the patronage of Manimajra princely state.
The Chaitra Navratra involves the worship of Goddess Durga and her nine forms. During this period, devotees offer prayers to Goddess Durga and observe fasts for nine days. The ninth day of Chaitra Navratras is celebrated as Ram Navami or Lord Rama birthday all over India. Adequate arrangements have been made at Prachin Kali Mata Shrine at Kalka. The shrine is situated between Kalka and Parwanoo. The entry of heavy vehicles will not be allowed for the next nine days in Kalka from Wednesday. Similarly, adequate arrangements have been made at Chandimata Mandir in Chandimandir area.
